Setting the benchmark for professional skills development in the UK’s electrotechnical sector, the EDA’s Product Knowledge Modules help businesses like yours create cross-selling and up-selling opportunities by building knowledge and confidence. The Modules have won two Princess Royal Training Awards – in 2022 and again in 2025.

All 12 modules were created product experts from EDA businesses, pooling their knowledge for the good of the sector. The EDA Distribution, Switchgear and Protection training covers:

• Generation Transmission and Distribution
• Distributing Electricity within a Property
• Protection and Control Devices
• Additional Protection
• Supply and Metering
• Specialist Applications

The more you know, the more you sell

Speaking the same language as your customers means better business relationships, and more cross-selling and up-selling opportunities. Well-trained staff build trust and encourage repeat business: they listen carefully, ask the right questions, and explain solutions clearly. This reduces misunderstandings and makes customers feel valued and heard.

When customers see that an organisation invests in training, it signals professionalism, accountability, and a commitment to doing things right – especially important in technical or safety-critical sectors like ours. 

Online learning through The EDA Academy

All the EDA Product Knowledge Modules are available to study electronically via The EDA Academy, the Association’s e-learning portal. Each training course is delivered through video and interactive learning, but if the original hard copy textbook is preferred, these are still available.

Years of knowledge

City & Guilds Accredited, these training courses harness decades of combined expertise from product experts at EDA manufacturers and allied trade associations to create an accessible and practical training opportunity for you and your team. EDA Product Knowledge modules are also CPD approved.

Test your knowledge

Have a go at the sample questions from the Distribution, Switchgear and Protection module. Then check your answers below. If the results show that you need to boost your team’s know-how, talk to the EDA today.

Sample questions

Q1: What is the name of the electricity industry regulator?
Q2: Explain the difference between Type A and Type B distribution boards.
Q3: What is embedded generation?
Q4: What type of meter must be used for billing purposes?
Q5: What are the consequences of a poor termination in a consumer unit?
Q6: Where would you use an RCD with an operating current of 500 mA?

Scroll down for answers

Answers

Q1: Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets).
Q2: Type A has a busbar arrangement designed to accept single and/or double-pole overcurrent protection devices. They have a horizontal busbar arrangement that accepts multi-pole and/or single-pole overcurrent protection devices.
Type B has a busbar arrangement designed to accept multi-pole and/or single-pole overcurrent protection devices. They have a vertical busbar with the overcurrent protection devices connected to the sides.
Q3: Generation of electricity close to the end user of the power
Q4: Meters used for billing of electricity must be either MID approved or approved under UK National legislation.
Q5: Fire, circuit failure or unexpected operation of the circuit protective device
Q6: On a circuit supplying one or more socket-outlets of rating exceeding 32 A, or on a construction site.

How did you do?

Full marks: Well done.

3 – 5 out of 6: Not bad. Could the Wiring and Devices Product Knowledge Module help you to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and help you progress in your career?

Less than 3: The EDA Product Knowledge training could be just what you need to boost sales.

Watch the video and download the Course Directory

There’s plenty of information online at www.eda.org.uk including a video and a downloadable Course Directory giving you a summary of what’s covered in each of the 12 training modules.

The EDA team is ready to help. Call 020 3141 7350 or email training@eda.org.uk

For more information, click here

Find more ‘EDA Insight’ articles here

The post EDA Insight: Know More, Sell More – Distribution, Switchgear and Protection appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Jake Green, Head of Technical Engagement, Scolmore Group, looks at how electrical faults can generate high fault currents — and why it’s crucial to ensure protective devices and switchgear are correctly rated to handle them.

In any electrical system, a fault – whether to Earth or between live conductors – will produce what’s known as a fault current. The level of this current depends on a range of factors, including system voltage, number of phases, and how close the installation is to the distribution transformer.

For wholesalers and contractors, understanding these fault levels is key to selecting and supplying the right equipment. This article explores typical fault current scenarios, how they can be assessed, and why choosing products with the correct breaking capacity is vital for safe and compliant installations.

In any electrical system a fault to Earth or a fault between live conductors will generate a fault current. The level of fault current will depend on a range of factors, including voltage levels, number of phases, proximity to the distribution transformer, and the like.

This article looks at likely levels of fault current, how they are to be assessed and the nature of equipment being sufficient to manage such fault currents (breaking capacity).

Types of fault

There are two types of ‘short circuit’ generally considered in BS 7671:

• Earth fault current – a current resulting from a fault of negligible impedance between a line conductor and an exposed-conductive-part or a protective conductor.
• Short circuit – an overcurrent resulting from a fault of negligible impedance between live conductors having a difference in potential under normal operating conditions.

Single-phase fault

Based on Figure 1 the level of fault current is determined by the following:

• The voltage – single phase (230 V)
• The impedance of the transformer winding
• The impedance of the supply cable (line-to-Earth or line-to-neutral)
• The impedance of the internal cable (line-to-Earth or line-to-neutral)

The simplest way to determine the level of fault current in a single-phase system is to determine the combined values of the transformer winding and the line and neutral conductors.

This can be simplified to

Two-phase fault

Based on Figure 1 the level of fault current is determined by the following:

• The voltage – between two phases (400 V)
• The impedance of the transformer winding.
• The impedance of the supply cable (line-to-Earth or line-to-neutral).
• The impedance of the internal cable (line-to-Earth or line-to-neutral.

The simplest way to determine the level of fault current between two-phases is to determine the combined values of the transformer winding and the line and line conductors.

This can be simplified to

The level of fault will be greater than for a single-phase fault but will not be double the value of a single-phase fault.

Three-phase fault

Based on Figure 1 the level of fault current is determined by the following:

• The voltage – counter-intuitively this is taken to be the value of a single-phase supply (230 V)
• The impedance of the transformer winding.
• The impedance of the supply cable (line only).

The simplest way to determine the level of fault current between three-phases is to determine the combined values of the transformer winding and the line conductor.

This can be simplified to

The level of fault will be greater than for a single-phase fault, and a two-phase fault but will still not be double the value of a single-phase fault.

Understanding the difference between expected fault current levels is important when selecting electrical equipment, such as circuit-breakers, switches and the like.

In a subsequent article we will consider the impact of prospective fault current values on the choice of equipment and recognise the importance of ensuring that the correct breaking capacity is selected.

For further information, click here

Find more industry features here

The post Why it’s crucial to ensure protective devices & switchgear are correctly rated to handle high fault currents appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

Lasnek has unveiled its latest selection of IP69 slope top boxes for installing terminals, pushbuttons, or switchgear.

Available in three different configurations, the latest product offering of slope top boxes from Lasnek includes push button boxes with supplied 22.5mm holes, terminal boxes with a blank front cover, and control station boxes with suitable apertures for easy fitting of an isolator and switches.

Manufactured from 1.5mm 304 brushed stainless steel, the latest additions to the range feature a 15-degree slope, to help prevent the build-up of material deposits. Suitable for use in highly corrosive environments and those that are subject to strict hygiene control, such as the food and drink industry, the latest range is available in 16 different sizes ranging from 100(H) x 100(W) to 285(H) x 285(W).

Complete with DIN rail for quick and simple mounting, all units within the range are 100mm deep, making them suitable for a wide range of electrical components requiring ingress protection to IP69.

The latest Lasnek slope-top terminal boxes come complete with a blank front panel and can be used as supplied or modified by the customer for specific entry requirements.

For more information, click here

The post Lasnek | Slope top boxes appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

The EDA’s Product Knowledge Modules help businesses like yours create cross-selling and up-selling opportunities by building knowledge and confidence.

These training modules have recently won a Princess Royal Training Award 2022 so you can be assured of their value.

Distribution, Switchgear and Protection is one of 12 training courses in the programme. The EDA modules are completely flexible and can be studied in any order or combination. You choose only the training your team needs.

E-learning option

By summer 2023 all the EDA training modules will be available in a digital format instead of a printed textbook. The digital learning option is a complete e-learning experience with videos and interactive content. The EDA team is happy to talk you through your options and can give you a demonstration of the new e-learning platform.

The Distribution, Switchgear and Protection training module covers:

• Generation Transmission and Distribution
• Distributing Electricity within a Property
• Protection and Control Devices
• Additional Protection
• Supply and Metering
• Specialist Applications

Years of knowledge to give your team a commercial edge

City & Guilds accredited, this training programme harnesses decades of combined expertise from product experts at EDA manufacturers and allied trade associations to create an accessible and practical training opportunity for you and your team.

EDA Product Knowledge modules are also approved for Continuing Professional Development by The CPD Certification Service.

Test your knowledge

Have a go at this quiz sampled from the Distribution, Switchgear and Protection module. Then check your answers below. If the results show that you need to boost your team’s know-how, talk to the EDA today.

Q1: Give the names of the two current ratings of a circuit-breaker.

Q2: Explain the term “DNO”

Q3: What are the consequences of a poor termination in a consumer unit?

Q4: What does the acronym SCADA stand for?

Q5: What unit of electricity is used for billing purposes?

Q6: What is pulsed output?

Scroll for answers…

How did you do?

Full marks: Well done!

3 – 5 out of 6: Not bad. Could the EDA training help you to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and help you progress in your career?

Less than 3: The EDA Product Knowledge Programme could be just what you need to boost sales.

<Answers to be printed upside down>

Q1: Operation and fault rating.

Q2: Distribution Network Operator.

Q3: Fire, circuit failure or unexpected operation of the circuit protective device.

Q4: Supervisory control and data acquisition

Q5: kWh.

Q6: A means of energy data collection.

Watch the video and download the course directory.

There’s plenty of information online at www.eda.org.uk including video and downloadable course directory, giving you a summary of what’s covered in each of the 12 training modules. The EDA team is ready to help. Call 020 3141 7350 or email training@eda.org.uk

For related articles, click here

The post EDA Insight: Switchgear and Protection quiz appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.